Help! My Son Needs to Be Casein Free!

My family is also dairy(casein free) and soy free (we all have low thyroid function and soy can contribute to that). Goat's milk protein is similar to cow's milk protein, thus isn't a good choice. And, lactose isn't casein free. Lactose is the sugar in milk and casein is the protein - and it's only one of the proteins. Whey is another cow's milk protein that generally must be avoided - they just test only for the casein.

The taste for the alternative milks can be developed and there's really no reason he needs to drink it straight. There is also a chocolate version of the Almond milk that my sons love. And, there are lots of other food sources of calcium.

Another alternative milk is Vance's Dari Free that is potato based and tastes very close to cow's milk. I made a large thermos of hot chocolate for one of my sons soccer games and kids (and adults) were coming back for seconds. Vance's is a powder that you mix with water, so it's also great for travel. It can be hard to find. They do have it at the specialty store at Flower Mound Pharmacy. Also, you order it online:
http://www.vancesfoods.com/darifree.htm

And, ideally, the whole family (at least at home) should go dairy free as it's very hard for a child to see others having things they can't - it will help tremendously with compliance. I bake with the alternative milks and you cannot tell the difference.

Our DS is allergic to casein as well. It isn't as hard to finds foods he can eat as I thought it would be. Our son drinks Silk Plain now. We supplement this with calcium fortified orange juice which was recommended by our pediatrician. He doesn't drink the milk as often as we would like. We have started giving him soy yogurt which he loves for breakfast almost every day. Make sure that you read the labels on the yogurt as well some soy yogurts including O'Soy include milk protein. Just make sure that you check labels. We love Sprouts now and have found lots of foods he is able to eat there.

Hello Michelle,

There is also oat milk. for a while I did a mixture of oat and soy milk for my kids. right now they don't want to drink anything so I'm working on an alternative. if he likes smoothies, most 'milk's flavors can be hidden w/ fruit or chocolate. it's hard to avoid casein so you have to read all the labels ...EVERY TIME... sometimes companies do change recipes. It will be trial and error. search the web for milk-free recipes. One website that can be helpful with links and food ideas is: http://nomilk.com/
you just have to look around and follow some links.

http://web.mit.edu/kevles/www/nomilk.html
http://web.mit.edu/kevles/www/nomilk.html#nonfood

Good luck and hang in there. You'll be a casein-free expert soon. ~C.~

Silk Soy Milk.

All Silk products are dairy-free, lactose-free and casein-free. None of our ingredients come from animal products, by-products or derivatives.

Hi Michelle,
Here is what we do:

1.Serve the new milks in the vanilla flavor at least until he adapts his taste for it....then originals may go over better.
2. Only use Silk brand for soy milks....it is the best by far. You could cook with the others, but I can not drink them and I love soy milk.
3. With the rice milk and almond...I prefer to mix the two...just an idea.
4. Cheeses: watch the RICE cheeses....unless it says casein free do not buy it...a lot of alternative cheeses are not casein free. The one RICE I have found is the slices; haven't found a block of cheese yet. The best SOY cheese I have found is at Sprouts...it is solid and grates and melts more normally...Look for VEGAN on it....IT is by Galaxy Nutritional Foods.
5. Sprouts also sells Soy puddings too. I buy the O'Soy Yogurt at Walmart...it is cheaper.

Goat milk is fine. Hemp milk is great to bake with, very nutritional, but don't drink it....unless Chocolate flavor...otherwise not so good.

Let me know if you have questions....

I know you posted awhile ago but I missed your original posting.

My son is anaphylactic to dairy and drinks soy, which is casein free. Also, anything vegan will be casein free. Also, many children who have trouble with dairy also have trouble with goat's milk.

Please let me know if you need help or suggestions.

Good luck!